2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Associate’s Degree Schools
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 163 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value fine & studio arts schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fine & studio arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Moorpark College the best value for a degree in fine & studio arts in the United States. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Skyline College earned it the #2 place for fine & studio arts. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
Santa Monica College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Santiago Canyon College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at San Diego Miramar College, which ranked #5. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $41,038. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College landed the #6 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
College Of The Canyons came in at #7 for value in fine & studio arts this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Valley College came in at #8 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $14,308. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $25,378. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Cuny Queensborough Community College came in at #9 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. In-state tuition and fees average $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cuny Queensborough Community College generally make around $16,739. Set against $10,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Irvine Valley College landed the #10 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Oklahoma City Community College is a large public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,059, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Students borrow a median of $13,919 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Oklahoma City Community College earn a median of $39,848 early in their careers. Set against $13,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cypress College earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,533.
Cerritos College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College earned the #14 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,282 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $8,575. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. That is a strong return on a $8,575 median debt.
Saddleback College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $15,890. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College landed the #17 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $9,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $13,559 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Shasta College placed #19 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Mainland placed #20 among the best values for fine & studio arts. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $10,928. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $40,788. That is a strong return on a $10,928 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias landed the #21 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District came in at #22 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $16,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College landed the #23 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,380, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $21,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Golden West College earn a median of $82,984 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Pasadena City College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College placed #25 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $8,542. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $9,347. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in fine & studio arts:
Other Fine & Studio Arts Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Fine & Studio Arts rankings across degree levels:
View All Fine & Studio Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 163 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 163 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
